From darkest moment to breakthrough discoveries
In this episode of the “DifferenceMakers” podcast, host Dr. Jim Hoven interviews his friend, Dr. Russ Birdsall , a fellow chiropractor with a unique focus on extremities. The conversation goes beyond Dr. Birdsall professional life to explore a deeply personal and tragic period of his life. He opens up about a moment of hopelessness caused by chronic pain, sharing a powerful story of contemplating suicide. He recalls how the cold metal of a gun barrel against his temple served as a sudden, stark realization that made him choose to live and get himself out of his situation. This decision marked the turning point in his life.
Dr. Birdsall explains that his chronic pain stemmed from a golf swing that injured his back, which, coupled with being overweight, led to severe and debilitating pain that conventional treatments couldn’t alleviate. After his life-altering decision, he committed to a rigorous daily routine of exercise, diet, and self-care, including using tools like BFR bands and cold plunges, which he found to be a massive help. He also highlights the importance of having a support system, with his wife being a crucial part of his recovery by helping him manage his anxiety and ground him during his struggle with body dysmorphia. Now, he uses his experience to help others who are suffering from chronic pain, offering them hope and a path to recovery by sharing his story of triumph over adversity.
- A brush with tragedy: Dr. Birdsall shares a deeply personal and emotional story about a moment of severe hopelessness where he contemplated suicide. This low point was triggered by chronic, debilitating pain that left him feeling like he had no answers or solutions.
- The turning point: The moment a gun barrel touched his temple was a shocking realization that shifted his perspective and snapped him out of his despair. This made him decide that he wasn’t a suicidal person but was “in some stuff” and needed to find his way out.
- The source of the pain: The cascade of pain began after he “swung out of his shoes” at a golf simulator, attempting to hit a 400-yard shot. The next morning, his back was so stiff he couldn’t breathe, and he found himself in constant, severe pain that was not helped by traditional treatments. This pain led to him averaging only two hours of sleep a night.
- Taking back control: After his low point, Dr. Birdsall adopted a new mindset, inspired by a quote from Les Brown, vowing to “make it” no matter how hard things got. He started with a rigorous, methodical routine of daily exercise and a disciplined diet.
- Chronic pain’s impact: He explains that chronic pain severely affected his family and marriage, making him feel “worthless” and unable to fulfill his roles as a provider and protector. His wife was a crucial support system, helping to ground him and talk him out of worst-case-scenario thinking.
- Unique insights as a chiropractor: Having gone through this ordeal, Dr. Birdsall can now empathize with patients in chronic pain on a deeper level. He reassures them by sharing his own story, emphasizing that finding a solution takes time and commitment to the process. He encourages caregivers to simply listen and be patient rather than try to “fix” the person.
- Tools for recovery: In addition to diet and exercise, he found significant relief through cold plunges, which offered him a rare, five-minute window of being completely pain-free. He also found success using Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) bands and shockwave therapy, which allowed him to train with lighter weights and helped his body heal.
- Ongoing journey: Dr. Birdsall journey is not over; he still experiences tingling and discomfort but now views his regimen as a permanent lifestyle rather than a temporary goal. He is committed to his routine, which he says is a “life or death situation” and a choice to “eat to live” rather than “live to eat”.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the video about?
The video features an interview with Dr. Russ Birdsall , a chiropractor, who shares his personal story of dealing with chronic pain and the struggles that led him to a moment of despair where he contemplated suicide. He discusses his journey from being an athlete to gaining weight and experiencing a debilitating back injury. The discussion also covers his recovery, his physical transformation, and the mental and emotional lessons he learned along the way.
Who is the guest in this episode?
The guest is Dr. Russ Birdsall , a chiropractor who specializes in extremities like arms, legs, knees, and hips. He is also an accomplished and sponsored disc golf player.
What caused Dr. Birdsall back injury?
Dr. Birdsall back injury occurred while he was playing on a golf simulator and attempting a powerful swing to hit a ball 400 yards. The next morning, his back was so stiff he could not breathe properly.
How did Dr. Birdsall attempt to treat his pain initially, and why did it not work?
He sought help from various treatments, including chiropractic care, massage, and acupuncture, but they all seemed to worsen his condition.
How did Dr. Birdsall overcome his suicidal thoughts and begin his recovery?
The turning point came when he put a gun to his temple and realized he was not a suicidal person but was simply in a dark place. The cold metal of the gun barrel against his skin put things into perspective, leading him to decide that he was the only one who could get himself out of the situation. He committed to his recovery, forcing himself to do exercises and stretches despite the pain.
What unexpected challenges did he face during his physical transformation?
An unexpected challenge he faced was body dysmorphia. After losing a significant amount of weight, he began a bulking phase to gain muscle, but he would see his former, heavier self in the mirror, which caused panic attacks.
How did he use cold plunges to help with his pain?
He discovered that a five-minute cold plunge in a bathtub filled with cold water gave him a five-minute window where he was completely pain-free. This discovery led him to make cold plunges a regular part of his routine.
What advice does he have for people suffering from chronic pain and for their support systems?
For those in chronic pain, Dr. Birdsall advises them to find a routine and stick to it, as consistency is key to making progress, and to not lose hope. For the support systems of those with chronic pain, he advises them to listen without immediately trying to fix their problems and to be patient and understanding.
